Saturday, March 29, 2014

2014 MLB Predictions

My favorite time of the year is here! It's baseball season! :-) So here's a quick look at what I think is going to play out in 2014.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Division winners Boston, Detroit, LAofAnaheim
Wild Cards New York, Texas
MVP Mike Trout (He should have won it last year)
Cy Young David Price (But don't be surprised if Darvish or Verlander sneaks in here)
Rookie of the Year Xander Bogaerts (Kind of a easy way out pick, I know.)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Division winners Washington, St. Louis, Los Angeles
Wild Cards Pittsburgh, Atlanta
MVP Yadier Molina (It should be close with Cutch and Harper)
Cy Young Jose Fernandez (I refuse to take the easy way out here and go with Kershaw again.)
Rookie of the Year Billy Hamilton (Maybe another easy way out here. Polanco could make a splash when he's recalled in June.)

League Champions Texas, St. Louis
World Series Champions St. Louis

Monday, March 17, 2014

Getting Personal: Relationships

It's been awhile since I posted a glimpse into my personal life. So here we go into my thoughts on relationships.

I'm divorced. The marriage failed badly. But it wasn't one of those bitter divorces you hear horror stories about. She and I knew it was for the best and handled things maturely and peacefully. Don't ask me what caused it to fail because I still don't honestly know. It could have been a number of things. The bottom line remains: she and I couldn't keep it together. It's not like we got married and planned to get divorced a few years later. We had grander plans, believe me. But it's not to be. It's over. However, it doesn't stop a small part of me hurting for something that will never happen: a second chance.

So what have I been doing since then? Not dating, that's for sure. Since the separation and divorce, dating hasn't been a priority. I did have a few flings though. Three, to be exact. And one near fling, but the woman involved got cold feet at the idea of a no-strings attached relationship. Now that I think about it, one of the three flings was probably a step or two above a "fling". Anyway, I've been telling myself since we split up I don't want anything serious. Well that's still the case. Sort of.

I do want something serious. I just don't want it right now. Down the road, I'm sure a serious and committed relationship will be wonderful. But I want to take my time getting there. I want to have fun and hang out with someone and get to know her and develop something strong to build on. Then, and only then, will I want to take the turn down Serious Street or Commitment Boulevard. If I start hanging out with someone and we both realize serious wouldn't work, well it's better to find that out sooner than later. And at that point, friendship is still a possible direction. And friendship is always a good thing to find because it is so rare. Of course, hanging out and having fun can lead to no-strings attached situations as well. I'm not saying those are bad, but at some point you must say goodbye to that lifestyle. And I am going to be picky with my next serious relationship. Not that I wasn't with my ex-wife, because I was. Just ask my Mom. There's a rumor she once asked my younger brother if I was gay because I brought women around so infrequently. Meh. Whatever.

So basically, I would to have someone around in the morning for coffee and someone there at night for cuddles. But I don't want that person to have permanent access to me right away. I'd like to start off with visitation rights, so to speak. Lol. Not to sound institutional or anything. :-P But that's the way it must be. It's the only way for me to be fair to myself and any future significant other. Hopefully there are women out there with taking these steps. Hopefully there are women out there capable of dealing with whatever level of relationship we do (or don't) reach. (I already dealt with one crazy bitch after a fling. I don't want to do it again.) Now I'm sure there are women out there who can handle it. It's just a matter of finding them.



Thank you all again for reading. I appreciate the support for this blog. Even with the inconsistency of my posts. And remember, if you cannot be a poet, be the poem.

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Friday, March 7, 2014

How About Some More Beer Talk?

Alright everyone. I'm back for another round of craft beer discussion. I am definitely developing a taste for certain kinds, but I will continue to try different styles and brands for discussion here. So let's start the countdown of the current six pack.


6. Rouge Mocha Porter -- I found very little to like about this brew other than it's pleasant aroma. Otherwise there aren't many positives. It went down rough and left an awful aftertaste. It actually is scaring me away from other Rouge brews.

5. New Holland The Poet Oatmeal Stout -- This was my first oatmeal stout and I was not impressed. I expected a heavier beer but this was heavy and harsh. It's even more disappointing because the label pictures a raven so there is obvious inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe. And since Poe is one of my favorite writers it was what influenced me to choose this beer. It wasn't worth it. I will keep the bottle though because it's pretty cool.

4. Southern Tier Iniquity Imperial Black Ale -- This was my first try at a Southern Tier brew and I wasn't impressed nor unimpressed. This beer was average. The color definitely lived up to its name and the 9% alcohol content will knock you down. So if dark imperials are your flavor, try it. It's just not something I will go back to.

3. Atwater Brewery Voodoo Vator -- I've had other Atwater Brewery beers and have enjoyed them. I liked this one as well. Voodoo Vator is a doppelbock (darker stronger version of traditional Bavarian Bock Bier) and is both dark and strong. It was relatively smooth and with it's 9% alcohol content it could sneak up on you if you aren't careful. It's not quite as dark as a porter or stout but if you pour it into a stein, you may, just for a few minutes, feel like you're in a German tavern.

2. Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale -- This was very close to being the number one beer of this six pack. It was strong (9.6% ABV) and sharp. This beer will give you a buzz and Gibbs-slap you at the same time. It went down nicely and it has some witty print on the label if you care to read such things. I would definitely buy this again.

1. Killer Penguin Barleywine Ale -- Brewed by Boulder Beer Company, this limited release season is a MUST try if you can find it. Not only is it one of the smoothest craft beers I have ever tried, but it has an amazing flavor, an unbelievable aroma and a color so gorgeous, you have to admire it for a few seconds before taking that first sip. But be careful, the 10% ABV will kick your ass because this beer goes down easy. (Insert 'yo momma' joke here.) Seriously though, if you can still find a few remaining bottles of Killer Penguin at your local craft beer place, do not hesitate to grab them.


Again, thank you for your attention. Have a fun and safe weekend, everyone.

www.facebook.com/jtlovecraft

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

More Beer Talk

Alright... time to discuss the next six beer in my craft beer journey!


Victory Storm King Stout -- This one didn't do it for me. It had a beautiful color but it went down harsh and had a wicked after taste.

Fort Collins Brewery Double Chocolate Stout -- Like the Storm King, this also had an unpleasant after taste. But the flavor and aroma was bold which helped save it a little.

Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout -- I was pleasantly surprised by this beer. I wasn't sure what to expect from a brewery in Brooklyn. It's not the smoothest stout but the flavor was great and the 10% alcohol content was a big plus.

Thirsty Dog Siberian Night Imperial Stout -- I enjoyed this one. It was strong (9.7%), had a gorgeous color and went down smooth. When it comes to imperial stouts, it's one of the better I have had.

Tres Blueberry Stout -- This unique stout from Dark Horse Brewery didn't have a distinct blueberry flavor. (Another craft beer, Wild Blue does have that flavor. So if that's what you want, go in that direction.) It did have a slight blueish tint to it and a wonderful flavor nonetheless.

Thunderstruck Coffee Porter -- I absolutely loved this one. Coming from Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, North Carolina (very close to where I have friends), this aromatic and bold brew is one of the best I have tried overall. And that includes anything I have tried at the bar as well. Without a doubt this is one I would buy again and again.


Thanks again for checking out the page. Until next time... if you cannot be a poet, be the poem.


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Friday, February 14, 2014